On New Year's Eve, just a few hours before the breakup of Czechoslovakia, the Varchal family meets in Banská Bystrica in front of the church to baptize the newest addition to the family, little Zuzka, the daughter of Petr and Helena. However, Peter misses the baptism, because he got his hands on the file of his father Daniel, from which he learns that his father was led as an agent of the ŠtB. When Peter finally arrives home, he immediately confronts Daniel's father with his discovery. Daniel's heart can't handle it and he has a heart attack. His life is saved by the quick intervention of a family friend and the rest of the family. Daniel is taken to the hospital. After Peter reveals the reason for his father's collapse, more and more Varchal secrets begin to emerge, and the argument about the father and his motives gather momentum. As they leaf through the file together, the family is shaken to its foundations with each subsequent page.
Helena, is about to give birth and face a rosy future in a modern city, as the pregnant wife of an important factory manager. However, all her illusions soon perish, as the dead body of a newborn intersex baby is found in the middle of their factory. Helena needs to find out what happened here for the safety of her own child, but she runs into her own prejudices.
Jozef Mak is illegitimate child of poor widow. He constantly withstands oppression of brother, village people and various wounds of fate. Despite of difficulties of the life, he moves on as resilient as the social class he represents.
